Gate latch



Feb. 26, 1952 J. w. KELLEY 2,587,167

GATE LATCH Filed Jan. 6, 1948 Fig.

John w. Kel/y INVENTOR.

Patented F eb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT, OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in gate latches and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved gate latch so designed as to lockably retain a gate in a closed and fixed position automatically upon closing movement of the gate relative to a gate post.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a gate latch including a plunger housing and novel and improved means for quickly and readily applying the housing to or removing the same from a gate in a convenient manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gate latch including a slidable locking plunger mountable on a gate and mean for retracting the plunger and locking the plunger upon closing movement of the gate relative to a gate post.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a gate latch that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary front elevational view of a gate structure and showing the present invention applied thereto for holding the gate in a closed position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 22 of Figure l Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 33 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the bearing and locking plate used in conjunction with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral represents a hollow preferably cylindrical housing which is closed at one end by an integral closure plate I2.

Slidably mounted in the housing i6, is the inner end [4 of a locking bar or plunger I6 that extends well outwardly from the housing I0. A coil spring I8 frictionally positioned in the hous- 2 ing I0 is biased between the closure plate 12 and the inner end [4 of the plunger l6, for normally urging the plunger in an outward or extended position relative to said housing.

The numeral 20 represents a usual gate structure generally, comprising a pair of spaced parallel, upstanding support posts 22 and 24, one of which, for example, post 22 is hinged as at 26 to one vertical side rail 28 of'a pivotal gate 30. Removably secured to the free side rail 32 of the gate 36, by fasteners or the like 33, is a clamping plate or auxiliary vertical side rail 34, between which and the free side rail 32, there is frictionally positioned a guide sleeve 36 one end of which terminates co-planar with the outer edges 38 and 40 of the free side rail 32 and the clamping plate 34.

In practical use of the present invention, the housing [0 is removably secured to selected horizontal rails 42 of the gate 36, by a plurality of attaching brackets or arms 44, so that the plunger I6 is slidably mounted in the guide sleeve 36. Rigidly secured to or forming an integral part of the plunger I6, is an annular stop shoulder 46 that limits the sliding movement of the plunger [6 relative to the guide sleeve 36 in one direction.

An inclined, horizontal notch 48 is provided in the support post 24 and removably engages a bearing plate or plunger actuating plate 50 having a central opening 52 that opposes a recess 54 provided in the post 24 which communicates with the notch 48. This plate 50 is so disposed relative to the post 24, that when the gate 30 is being closed, the outer rounded end 56 of the plunger I 6 will frictionally engage the plate 59 in a cam-like manner to gradually retract the plunger I6 until such time as the end 56 of the plunger engages the opening 52. In this position, the gate is completely closed and thespring [8 will urge the end 56 of the plunger into the opening 52 and the recesses 54, as shown best in Figure 2 of the drawings to retain the gate 30 in a closed and locked position.

To release the plunger from the opening 52 and recess 54, there is provided a rigid finger engaging lug 58 on the plunger which will engage the housing III to limit the retracting movement of the plunger Hi.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this 3 art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

In a gate structure including a vertical side rail and a plurality of horizontal rails including a pair of intermediate rails; a latch comprising a housing open at one end, an elongated cylindrical locking bar having one end portion slidably received in said housing, means detachably securing said housing to and between said pair of intermediate rails, means disposed in the housing normally urging one end of said bar from said housing, an auxiliary vertical rail, means adjustably securing said auxiliary verti- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 253,047 Hersey Jan. 31, 1882 410,934 Sanders et al Sept. 10, 1889 527,693 Hurst Oct. 16, 1894 783,641 McKinney Feb. 28, 1905 20 1,516,995 Trigueiro Nov. 25, 1924 2,118,722 Bock May 24, 1938 

